J-K govt to make education 'human resource sector'

Jammu, March 30: Terming as "challenging" the aim to improve education sector in Jammu and Kashmir, state education minister Naeem Akhtar said the government will focus on creating a knowledge-based society.

"The education set up in Jammu and Kashmir has suffered systemic damage. The focus and challenge for us is to bring back state educational sector from infrastructure development department to human resources development department", Naeem told reporters.

"It is a big challenge. I am not a politician. We have to focus on child rather than a teacher or building. Over the years, the focus has been changed and it is now infrastructure development department and not human resources development department. I have to change this perception," he said.

"We focus is on reforms in educational sector. My focus is not punitive administrative actions but my failure and success will be judged on whether I will be able to bring reforms in educational sector. With Rs 6,000 crores available to us, I should be able to give best possible education setup in the state," he said. "Our actions will be not punitive it will based on reforms and human touch," he said.

On academics, Naeem said "We will relate their progress and performance to their academic performance. We will bring out chart of duties and it will be included in that."

Naeem said that the coalition government is determined about course correction in education and creation of a knowledge-based society. Naeem said, "J&K has historically been the source of knowledge and enlightenment in South Asia.

The first Buddhist conference was held in Kashmir in the 4th century, this place was known as Sharda Peeth (seat of knowledge).

"Even up to contemporary times, iconic people like Krishna Joo Razdan, Shiv Kumar Sharma, K L Sehgal and Mallika Pukhraj were born here. In not very distant past, Lal Ded and Sheikh Nuruddin Wali were born. Wali set up the first girls school in Kashmir during times when girl literacy was unheard of in South Asia."

He said that J&K had dropped down to 6th Rank in the country in terms of literacy rate. "Today our literacy rate has dropped to 6th rank in the country. The vision is to achieve 100 per cent literacy level among females," Akhtar said.

PTI